What not to say to a DUI officer if being investigated for DUI

In case you’re not familiar with this blog and reading it for the first time. I’m a DUI lawyer in Seattle, WA. I have been doing this area of law for almost 10 years and I have met and become friends with many Police Officers that investigate DUI cases here in the Seattle area. One of these Police Officers that I consider my friend recently discussed some funny statements that people make when being investigated for a DUI in Seattle. It got me thinking, what are some of the worst things to say to a Cop of you’re being investigated for a DUI so here you go in no particular order.

First don’t tell the Police Officer you know “so and so” who is a fellow Police Officer. Surprisingly people think that it is a good idea to bring up a friend who happens to be a Cop or a friend of a friend or family member. This is not a good idea. If you’re being investigated for a DUI in Seattle and you tell the DUI Officer that you know another Seattle Police Officer that is not going to help you and it’s only going to make it look like you’re trying to get out of the arrest. Trust me this will not help you when the Prosecutor is reading the police report.

Secondly don’t say or do anything rude. Yes it sucks to be investigated for a DUI, and yes it is horrible if you get arrested for a DUI. But do yourself and your DUI lawyer a favor and please be polite. If you can’t do that then please be quiet. The more rude you are all you’re doing is pissing off the DUI officer. They are not going to let you go, and most likely you will get booked into the King County Jail for DUI and spend the night there.

Thirdly please don’t say you’re almost home. I can’t tell you how many police reports I read where the first thing a driver says to the DUI officer is “I’m almost home can’t you just let me go.” First of all this statement is going to be used against you in the DUI criminal trial. Secondly the Cop is not going to let you go and will only take this as an admission that you know you shouldn’t be driving.

Lastly don’t tell the DUI officer that you’re going to hire a DUI lawyer and beat the case. It doesn’t sound good. And guess what. Let’s say you get arrested for a DUI in Seattle. You hire a DUI lawyer. That DUI lawyer is trying to negotiate with the Prosecutor for a reduction in charges. The Prosecutor contacts the Police Officer to get their opinion on a possible plea deal. You think the Police Officer is going to go along with any reduction if they remember that statement you made about taking them to court and beating the charge.

Look the best piece of advice I can give is just be polite and ask to speak with a DUI lawyer before you answer any questions or do any tests. It’s that simple. Nobody has ever talked their way out of a DUI arrest before and you will not be the first. And I have news for you. Regardless of what you think you know if there is an odor of alcohol on your breath or person you will get arrested for a DUI. I don’t care what the Cop says. You will get arrested. So do yourself and your DUI lawyer a favor and clam up.

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About the author: Matthew Leyba is a DUI Lawyer in Bellevue, Washington. He is rated as a 10/10 by Avvo.com and listed as a Superb DUI Lawyer in Seattle. He is has been repeatedly named a Rising Star in the area of DUI Defense by Super Lawyers Magazine, an honor only a fraction of other DUI lawyers get.

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